Thiruvananthapuram: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan did little for development and was merely “renaming central schemes”.Addressing an NDA election rally at Kattakkada, Shah said Kerala’s development narrative under the Left govt was limited to “name-change startups” that rebranded centrally sponsored programmes. Shah promised that if the NDA comes to power, Thiruvananthapuram would be developed into an artificial intelligence hub, with similar sector-specific hubs in other districts focusing on health, education, defence, IT, culture and shipbuilding.Highlighting BJP’s growth in Kerala since 2009, Shah said the party steadily increased its vote share, winning its first MLA, later an MP, and now holding the mayoral post in Thiruvananthapuram. He expressed confidence that the state would soon have an NDA chief minister.He accused the Left govt of failing to ensure women’s safety and deliver progress in education over the past decade. Shah assured that an NDA govt would prioritise women’s safety and roll out welfare measures, including monthly financial assistance for women, free LPG cylinders, and drinking water support.He also vowed strict action against corruption, stating that those involved in gold smuggling and related cases would be jailed within two months if the NDA assumes power.
